T'ai Chi is a mindful practice, an ancient, internal martial art, which
gives you a feeling of success and accomplishment. It helps you find
out how to slow down instead of always going faster and harder. Buddha
said: "Life is so short that it must be lived slowly". Slowing down
can mean you look at things calmly. Don't fly off the handle. T'ai Chi
can positively affect every aspect of your life including your physical
and mental health, your view of the world and the way you interact with
others.

After 25 years of personal experience when I say that T'ai Chi is a
highly evolved art, science and philosophy of mind and body development,
for health, healing, sickness prevention and stress management, I am
only endorsing the views of its many followers worldwide, who kick-start
their day with some T'ai Chi. Although T'ai Chi is only 400 years old,
its principles of action have been developed over thousands of years.
Considered a cultural treasure in China for centuries, T'ai Chi is the
culmination of martial art, traditional Chinese medicine and Taoist
philosophy which is concerned with life on earth and works on the premise
that the softest things in the world overcome the hardest things.

T'ai Chi took birth at Chenjiagou, a village dominated by a simple farming
community and located on the Yellow River in the peaceful countryside of
northern China. The continually spiralling, coiling, flowing movements
alternating between slow and quick, gentle and firm, rising and sinking,
contracting and expanding, combined with
natural deep breathing and full intention, promote a deep sense of relaxation
of body and mind by releasing nervous tension and balancing the circulation
of internal energy or chi.

A typical T'ai Chi session consists of "Embracing the Tree" which allows
you to feel your body and the chi and its movement. Also, it helps you
to become aware of any tension in the body, which you can release by
letting your breath go to the spot.

Exercises like "Push the Sky, Snatch the Yang and Open the Wings" improve the digestive functions of the spleen, pancreas and stomach, and help you to focus and concentrate. This is followed by a series of continuous circular, flowing movements called silk-reeling exercises
which calm the mind, strengthen the chi and provide
physical benefits. The session usually ends with a long sequence called
the ‘form', central to any T'ai Chi system. The T'ai Chi Form is the
greatest teacher, and through it the serious student ultimately understands
the true meaning of T'ai Chi.

While T'ai Chi for seniors restores youthful pliability, joint mobility
and increases energy levels, for children, it cultivates self-discipline,
self-control and emotional balance, through teaching them mutual co-operation
rather than competition.

There are opportunities to put a little T'ai Chi practice into practically
everything you do. Sink a little and do some abdominal breathing when
stuck in a line at the bank or grocery store. Instead of pulling the
door with your arms, pull the door open by shifting your weight. You
can try mini-meditation while the phone is on hold. Practice yielding
and you will be amazed to see how relaxed you feel and how much more
efficient in life you become.

Life is simple — normally you live, learn, seek happiness and love,
you grow old, and you die. Whether in T'ai Chi practice, at work, in
personal relationships, or shopping at the mall, live and act simply
and truthfully. Get out of your own way, and you'll find all your problems
begin to resolve themselves.